The criminals of 1871 were of a much higher class than we have today. Also, I note that, apparently, inappropriate dress, such as wearing pants so low as to expose the buttocks was not so much of a problem then.

I know several people who long for the holier, simpler days of the 19th century. I try to silence their ignorant nostalgia with the suggestion that they try out 19th century dentistry to see how glorious those days really were. Now I can point them to the pictures, where teenagers are middle-aged and 30-somethings have one foot in the grave. Hard times back then, eh?

My doormat was stolen again. It was a really nice one too. I anticipated it would be stolen so I bought two to replace the first one that was stolen but now I believe it not possible to have a doormat with all these impish pranksters running around who cannot keep their grubby little mitts off my doormat. Bastards.

Note the many Irish surnames. Undoubtedly, the environment in England, without protection from an Establishment of Religion (even though its meaning has been prostituted out of all recognition by the Lefties), was unfriendly to sons and daughters of the Church.

Edu. the sunday schooler once again shows how little he knows of English, Irish or American history. The Newcastle inmates were mostly victims of Anglo-capitalism anyway, Queen Vicky style. (don't trouble yr little John Bircher mind about it Edu-tard)

KenK said..."I see the old days weren't the small gov laissez-faire paradise some of us here seem to think it was."

Nearly every thread has at least one comment that is ignorant and stupid in the extreme. You have supplied that comment for this thread. For your achievement, you are given the Flaming Straw Man award for this thread. Cherish it.

Edu. the sunday schooler once again shows how little he knows of English, Irish or American history. The Newcastle inmates were mostly victims of Anglo-capitalism anyway, Queen Vicky style. (don't trouble yr little John Bircher mind about it Edu-tard)

Clearly, J never heard of the Anglican Establishment and its effects on British society; he merely projects his neuroses on everyone else.

There are several interesting things about these photos beyond the subject matter.

First, it's interesting that they took them at all. Photography was new, and expensive. The intent seems to go beyond having an identifier of the convict. There's an obvious attempt to inject some art and soul into the images.

Second, the subjects are cooperating in the process. They have been told how to pose, and they pose that way. There are as interested in the camera as the camera is in them. Probably many had never been photographed before. What were they thinking?

Third, while their clothes are tattered and grimy, all the subjects are dressed with a stab at respectability. They are upwardly aspiring, not nihilistic or rebellious. Contrast these photos with current web shots.

KenK and J can't imagine how us poor weak reeds got along before caring gummint. Just fine, thank you. But here's the catch: was life perfect? No. GOTCHA says lefty and walks away with the cat that caught the canary grin plastered all over his smug mug.

"KenK said..."I see the old days weren't the small gov laissez-faire paradise some of us here seem to think it was."

You should see the pictures of the new dread-locked tattooed soulless predators in your local lock-up. All created by the 'War on Poverty', a kind caring social welfare system, and a compassionate government.

6:09 Clearly, you don't know fock about the east end of London in the 19th century Edu-trash, and you don't know jack about the Anglican-calvinist racket either (and most of xtians working the London street were methodists, anyway, Edu-dreck). Stick to your Bruce Catton for Dyslexic rednecks, fool

Most of the sentences, given time and place, seemed reasonable to me. Some thought given to the severity of the crime and the criminal; age of in particular. Some get caught up in using present day attitudes to judge the past, a shallow but easy view.

6:09 Clearly, you don't know fock about the east end of London in the 19th century Edu-trash, and you don't know jack about the Anglican-calvinist racket either (and most of xtians working the London street were methodists, anyway, Edu-dreck). Stick to your Bruce Catton for Dyslexic rednecks, fool

Apparently, we've moved on from the Jews and the Mormons to the Calvinists.